A tiny cubiform satellite made by graduate students at the University of Tokyo and launched from a Russian space station on a Cosmos rocket last month is in a circular orbit 688 km above the Earth, using a new solar battery to transmit data.</PARAGRAPH> <PHOTO> <TABLE WIDTH='200' ALIGN='RIGHT' BORDER='0'> <TR> <TD><IMG ALT='News photo' BORDER='0' SRC='/images/photos2005/nn20051129f3a.jpg' WIDTH='200' HEIGHT='144'/></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT SIZE='1'><B>SHINICHI NAKASUKA –

, a professor at the University of Tokyo, and Ryu Funahashi, leader of a group of graduate students who made a tiny cubical satellite, shown in bottom photo provided by Nakasuka, weep with joy Oct. 27 after the first signal from the craft was received as it passed over Japan.

It is the second such satellite placed in orbit. The first was sent up in June 2003.

"Although the first successful launch may have been regarded as merely fortunate, the second success is a great achievement. The next step is in sight," said Shinichi Nakasuka, a professor who coached the students into developing the orbiter.

The satellite, measuring 10 cm on each side and weighing 1 kg, was launched to test a solar battery newly developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Its first signal was received on the night of Oct. 27 when it crossed Japan.

The cubical satellite project started in 1999 when a U.S. professor hit upon the idea for educational purposes.

Using the "piggyback" method, in which a small satellite rides on a rocket used for launching a larger satellite, five cubical satellites were launched two years ago -- one made by the University of Tokyo, one by Tokyo Institute of Technology and three by foreign institutes.

The foreign-made satellites failed to send signals, but those made by the two Japanese universities successfully got in touch with the ground. They are still active, and a digital camera on the University of Tokyo satellite is sending back pictures of the Earth, which are distributed to those who want them.

"Initially, the pictures could not be taken well because the light was stronger than had been estimated, but with the passage of time, good pictures have begun to be taken because the lens has changed after being in radiation," Nakasuka said.

Since last year, when it was decided to launch the second satellite, about 10 University of Tokyo students worked on improving the camera's resolution.

"New technologies can be easily tested on an ultra-small satellite. We hope the relationship with JAXA is one of give and take -- our cooperation and JAXA's provision of launch opportunities," Nakasuka said. The cost to develop and launch of the two satellites totaled 15 million yen.

The number of universities taking part in the project is increasing. According to the University Space Engineering Consortium, about 10 Japanese universities are trying to produce satellites. Tokyo Institute of Technology has completed its second satellite and Nihon University has its first one ready, and both are waiting for launch opportunities.